Bead lining tool

ABSTRACT

A bead lining tool includes a bed member, fixed and movable die supports upstanding from the bed, the movable die support being slidable relative to the bed and releasably secured thereto by a set screw, and a threaded movable die carrier extending through the movable die support and rotatable to advance toward and retract from the fixed die support. A fixed die is positioned in the fixed die support, while a movable die is positioned in the movable die carrier. A series of depressions are formed in the bed for engagement by the set screw to coarsely position the movable die. The movable die carrier is rotated by a hand wheel to finely advance the movable die toward the fixed die to engage the dies with ends of a bead liner tube extending through a bead to flare and roll the ends of the liner tube.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) and 37 C.F.R. § 1.78(a)(4) based upon copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/818,729 for BEAD LINING TOOL filed Jul. 6, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is broadly concerned with a tool for flaring and rolling the ends of a metal tube inserted into a workpiece, such an ornamental bead to form a liner for protecting the bead from damage by a string or wire used for attachment in jewelry making or the like. More particularly, it is concerned with a tool having a pair of forming dies. The tool operates to urge a respective die into each end of a metal tube positioned inside a bead to form a liner.

Ornamental beads used in making jewelry and other forms of decoration are generally apertured or bored through to permit passage of a wire or string through the bead to form a bead string or for decorative attachment to clothing or another object. When the beads are of glass, ceramic, faience, paper or other relatively fragile construction, they may be worn or damaged by stress on the wire or string that is run through the hole. For this reason, the hole is commonly lined with a malleable metal tube constructed of copper, silver, or the like to protect the surfaces and edges of the hole. The edges of such so-called cores or bead liners are generally rolled to form a smooth transition with the end wall of the bead. These rolled edges serve to hold the bead in place on the tube, so that it does not rattle back and forth during use, and also to ensure that the sharp edges of the tube do not cut through the string or wire used to fasten the bead in place.

Conventional bead lining technique is a multistage operation involving the sequential use of several tools, generally a dapping punch and dapping block, and hammer or mallet. The method involved measuring the length of the bead and adding a preselected length to each end to be rolled. The tube is then inserted into the hole of the bead and the bead oriented on the dapping block so that the tube is upstanding. A dapping punch slightly larger than the diameter of the tube is next inserted downwardly into the tube and the punch is hammered with a mallet three or four times until the upper end of the tubing begins to flare. The bead is flipped over, and the process is repeated at the opposite end of the tube. The process is repeated several times using increasingly larger dapping punches until a sufficient flare is achieved at both ends of the tube. The dapping punch is then reversed and the flat side is hammered against each flared end until the tubing is flush against the bead.

This method produces only a relatively flattened edge and is not well suited for small beads. The repeated hammering tends to cause breakage of beads less than 9 mm wide and 6 mm thick. Each time the mallet hits the tube, the force causes the bead to recoil or bounce along the tube and strike against the dapping block, subjecting it to risk of cracking, chipping or breaking.

A bead liner clamping tool has been used to attempt to minimize hammering and to produce a more rolled edge. When both ends of the tube have been sufficiently flared using the dapping punch, the bead is placed in the bead liner clamp. The user holds the clamp in one hand and tightens the jaws by twisting with the other hand until the clamp closes on the tube. Continued tightening of the jaws of the clamp increases the pressure on the ends of the tube, forcing the tube edges to roll back against the end walls of the bead. Such clamps have not been particularly successful because they still require manual flaring of the tube by hammering with a dapping punch. They are difficult to use as well. If the user twists the clamp too tightly and over tightens the clamp, the bead may be cracked, chipped or crushed. If the user under tightens the clamp, the bead liner will fail to roll back completely to contact the end walls of the bead and the bead will rattle along the tube during use. There may also remain exposed sharp tube edges that will wear against and may eventually cut through the string or wire used to fasten the bead. Unlike a dapping block, such tools include only one set of dies. This means that only one size tube and bead can be used with each tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A greatly improved bead lining tool precisely flares and rolls the edges of a bead lining tube in a single operation in accordance with a predetermined shape and without the need for hammering.

An embodiment of a bead lining tool or press generally includes a flat bed or base member, a fixed die support upstanding from the bed member, a movable die support engaged with the bed member, a fixed die positioned in the fixed die support, a movable die positioned in the movable die support in alignment with the fixed die, and advancement structure engaged between the movable die and the movable die support and operable to move the movable die toward and away from the fixed die. The fixed and movable dies are shaped to flare and roll opposite ends of a bead liner tube to secure the bead liner tube within a bead.

In an embodiment of the bead lining tool, the advancement structure includes a threaded stud having a movable die bore to receive the movable die. The stud is threaded into a threaded bore formed through the movable die support. The stud may have a gripping structure such as a hand wheel, knob, crank, or the like mounted on an end opposite the movable die bore for manual grasping to rotate the stud relative to the movable die support to move the movable die toward and away from the fixed die.

In an embodiment of the bead lining tool, the fixed and movable dies are preferably used in sets and are removably positioned in the fixed die support and the movable die support or, more properly, in the threaded stud. Each of the dies includes a cylindrical mounting shaft or shank terminated at one end by a flange or stop, with the actual die positioned on the opposite side of the flange from the mounting shank. The fixed die support has a die receiving bore formed therethrough to receive the mounting shaft of the fixed die. Similarly, the movable die has the mounting shaft thereof received in the bore within the end of the threaded stud.

In an embodiment of the bead lining tool, the movable die support is movably engaged with the bed to provide for coarse movement of the movable die, with the threaded stud providing fine movement thereof. One side of the base member has a groove or rabbet formed along a lower side thereof. The movable die support has a finger which hooks around a flange formed by the rabbet and rides in the rabbet. An opposite side of the base member is provided with a series of apertures. The movable die support has a set screw threaded therethrough and a finger wheel which is grasped to position an end of the set screw in one of the apertures to thereby coarsely set the position of the movable die support. The threaded stud is then rotated to advance the movable die toward the fixed die with the bead liner tube positioned in a bead.

Various objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this bead lining tool.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the bead lining tool, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bead lining tool.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bead lining tool.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bead lining tool.

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross sectional view of a bead having a bead lining tube extending therethrough, with ends of the tube partially flared and rolled by dies of the bead lining tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the bead lining tool are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the device, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional I details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the bead lining tool in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Referring now to the drawing figures, the reference numeral 1 refers to an embodiment of a bead lining tool.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated bead lining tool 1 includes an elongated base 2 having a fixed die support 3 and an opposite movable die support 4 upstanding therefrom. When oriented for a right-handed user as depicted in FIG. 1, the movable support 4 is on the right, and the fixed support 3 is on the left. The fixed support 3 and movable support receive a fixed die 8 and a movable die 9 respectively and cooperate to flare and roll ends of a liner tube 10 shown in FIG. 4.

The base 2 has a generally planar upper surface that serves as a flat-bed 11. The front and rear portions of the base 2 are slightly relieved along their respective lengths. This gives the base an overall slightly T-shaped appearance when viewed from above, with a wider end 5 adjacent the fixed support 3 projecting beyond the relieved portion 6 of the base 2. The user-facing side of the base 2 includes a series of spaced apart depressions or indentations 12, formed as by drilling. The relieved opposite side of the base 2 includes an elongate undercut groove or rabbet 13 (FIG. 1) adjacent the bottom of the base 2 to form a guide for the movable support 4.

In the illustrated tool 1, upper ends of the fixed and movable supports 3 and 4 each include respective chamfers 14 and 15 to facilitate reaching over the tool when it may be desirable to grasp the bead 60 while advancing the die 9 with the hand wheel 37. The fixed support 3 includes a fixed die receiving bore 21 (FIG. 2) positioned in spaced relation to the peak or apex formed by the chamfer 14. The movable support 4 includes a somewhat larger threaded central bore 22, having an axis aligned with the bore 21. The heights of the fixed and movable supports 3 and 4 are illustrated as similar, although it is foreseen that they may differ so long as the bores 21 and 22 are aligned.

The illustrated fixed support 3 is somewhat narrower than the depth of the base 2 and is attached to the base by a pair of screws 23, countersunk into the lower surface of the base 2. The movable support 4 is sufficiently wider than the relieved portion 6 of the base 2 to include a recess 24 (FIG. 1) at the bottom, sized to receive the base 2. The lower rear portion of the movable support 4 includes an inwardly projecting tongue or guide flange 25 sized for sliding reception within the rabbet 13 in the base 2. A lower front portion of the movable support 4 includes a threaded aperture 31 for receiving a set screw 32 equipped with a knob 33. The movable support 4 is slid along the relieved portion 6 of the base 2, and the set screw 32 is aligned with one of the indentations 12 and tightened to coarsely determine the position of the movable die 9 relative to the fixed die 8, as will be described further below.

The illustrated tool 1 includes a threaded stud or movable die carrier 35 including a movable die receiving bore 36 formed coaxially into one end of the die carrier 35. The movable die carrier 35 is threaded through the bore 22 in the movable support 4 to orient the bore 36 in facing relation toward the fixed support 3. A grip member such as a hand wheel 37 is positioned on an outer end of the movable die carrier 35 opposite the bore 36. The grip member could alternatively be a knob, a crank, or the like. The movable die carrier 35 forms a movable die advancement structure for finely positioning the movable die 9 relative to the fixed die 8.

Referring to FIG. 4, each of the illustrated dies 8 and 9 includes a cylindrical mounting shank 51 which terminates in a radially expanded stop disc or flange 52. A die stem 53 extends from the stop disc 52 and has a somewhat semi-annular shaped shoulder 54 formed at an end which converges to a central tip 55. The shoulder 54 is shaped to form ends 57 of the tube 10 to a desired shape. The cylindrical mounting shanks 51 enable the dies 8 and 9 to be conveniently interchanged by positioning in their respective bores 21 and 36 and removed as needed. The stop discs 52 engage the supports 3 and 4 when the shanks 51 of dies 8 and 9 are fully inserted into the bores 21 and 36. The dies 8 and 9 are preferably provided in complementary pairs, with the stems 53, shoulders 54, and tips 55 thereof sized and shaped appropriately for the size of liner tube 10 to be used in lining a bead 60. An array of complementary sets of dies 8 and 9 can be provided with a carrying block (not shown) with bores to receive the shanks 51 of the dies 8 and 9 stored thereon.

The bead 60 is illustrated in FIG. 4 in such a manner as to suggest that the bead is spherical in shape. Alternatively, other shapes of beads 60 can be lined using the tool 1, such as cylindrical shapes, rectangular or cubic shapes, disc shapes, and the like. Additionally, while FIG. 4 shows the liner 10 positioned along a diametric axis of the bead 60, a liner bore 61 may be located at any desired position on the bead 60, as, for example, in relatively closely spaced relation to the perimeter of a disc shaped bead 60. It is foreseen that bore 61 could be counterbored, or internally bevelled (not shown) to relieve the external edge of the bore to prevent possible chipping around edges of the bore.

In use, a bead 60 is selected for lining and a tube 10 is selected having an outer diameter sized to provide a snug fit within the bead hole 61. A user cuts the tube 10 to a length of from about 1 mm to about 16 mm longer than the width of the bead 60, so that the tube will extend beyond the bead on each side by a distance of from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm. The user selects a pair of dies 8 and 9 having a size suitable for use with the tube and a configuration suitable to form the desired shape. The length of the tube 10 in cooperation with the configuration of the shape of the dies 8 and 9 will determine the shape of the roll at the ends 57 of the formed liner tube 10. It is foreseen that shaped, apertured bead caps (not shown) could be placed over the bead 60 with the apertures of the caps and bead bore 61 in alignment, so that the ends 57 of the tube 10 protrude therethrough for retaining the caps in place by flaring and rolling the ends 57 of the tube 10 over the caps and thereby retaining the caps on the bead 60.

The user next urges the die shank 51 of the fixed die 8 into the bore 21 of fixed support 3 until the stop disc 52 contacts the surface of the fixed support 3. The collar 52 thus serves as a stop against the support 3. The user urges the die shank 51 of movable die 9 into the die receiving bore 36 of the die carrier 35, until the collar 52 stops against the end of the carrier 35.

The user then rotates the knob 33 of set screw 32 in a direction to loosen the set screw sufficiently to disengage it from an aperture 31. This permits the user to slidingly urge the movable support 4 toward the fixed support for coarse positioning of the movable die 9, causing the two aligned die tips 55 to approach to a convenient distance for mounting the bead. The user rotates the knob 33 in a direction to cause the set screw 32 to engage one of the base apertures 31, thereby locking the movable support 4 in place on the base 2. The user next installs the precut tube 10 into the bead 60 so that it projects slightly from either end of the bead and slips the tube over the tip 55 of the stationary die 8. The user rotates the hand wheel 34, which in turn rotates the threaded stud within the threaded bore 24, causing the tip 55 of the moveable die 9 to advance toward and enter the opposite end of the tube 10 for fine positioning of the movable die 9. The hand wheel 34 is rotated until the tube 10 is firmly seated in the curvate shoulders 54 of the respective dies 8 and 9.

Continued rotation of the hand wheel 34 exerts force on both ends of the malleable tube 10, causing it to ride circumferentially outwardly along the shoulders 54 of the respective dies 8 and 9, forming a roll, until the ends of the tube are rolled securely against the respective sides of the bead 60. A user may grasp and turn the bead 60 on the dies 8 and 9 during the rolling process to ensure that the roll is smooth and even. During the pressing action of the dies 8 and 9 on the ends of the tube 10 to flare and roll the ends, the bead 60 tends to move toward a centered position on the tube 10. As the ends 57 of the tube 10 are rolled, engagement thereof with the surface of the bead 60 serves as a tactile stop to inform the craftsman that the flaring and rolling operation is complete. The lined bead 60 is removed by rotating the hand wheel 34 until the dies 8 and 9 are disengaged from the lined bead 10.

In this manner, mechanical advancement of the movable die carrier 35 in cooperation with the configuration of the die shoulders 54 exerts a uniform force on both sides of the bead tube 10, and the dies 8 and 9 force the tube to flare outwardly in a preselected uniform configuration in accordance with the shape of the die shoulders 54. This enables fragile beads 60 of various sizes to be easily lined in a continuous operation using a single tool without the need for hammering and thus, without damage to the bead 60.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present bead lining tool have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. 

1. A bead lining tool for shaping opposite ends of a bead liner tube extending through a bead and comprising: (a) a bed member surmounted by a fixed die support and a movable die support; (b) a fixed die transversely positioned on said fixed die support; (c) a movable die transversely positioned on said movable die support and in alignment with said fixed die; and (d) advancement structure engaged between said movable die and said movable die support and operable to advance said movable die toward said fixed die to engage said dies with ends of a bead liner tube positioned in a bead to thereby shape the ends of the tube and to retract said movable die away from said fixed die.
 2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said advancement structure includes: (a) a threaded stud extending through a threaded bore formed through said movable die support and receiving said movable die, said stud being rotatable to advance and retract said movable die relative to said fixed die.
 3. A tool as set forth in claim 2 and including: (a) a hand grip engaged with said stud to enable grasping to rotate said stud.
 4. A tool as set forth in claim 2 and including: (a) a hand wheel engaged with said stud to enable grasping to rotate said stud.
 5. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said fixed die is removably received in said fixed die support; and (b) said movable die is removably positioned on said movable die support.
 6. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said fixed die and said movable die includes: (a) a mounting shank; (b) a stop disc at one end of said mounting shank; (c) a central stem extending from said stop disc; (d) said central stem diverging to curvate shoulders; and (e) said stem and shoulders cooperating with an end of a bead lining tube to flare and roll the end of the tube.
 7. A tool as set forth in claim 1 and including: (a) said movable die support movably engaging said bed member; and (b) a fastener engaged with said bed member and said movable die support to releasably secure said movable die support to said bed member.
 8. A tool as set forth in claim 1 and including: (a) said movable die support being slidably engaged with said bed member; and (b) a set screw mounted on said movable die support and operable to engage said bed member to releasably secure said movable die support to said bed member.
 9. A tool as set forth in claim 8 and including: (a) a plurality of spaced apart indentations formed in said bed member, said indentations being selectively engaged by said set screw to releasably secure said movable die support to said bed members.
 10. A bead lining tool for shaping opposite ends of a bead liner tube extending through a bead and comprising: (a) a generally flat bed member; (b) a fixed die support secured to said bed member and upstanding therefrom; (c) a movable die support movable engaged with said bed member, releasably secured thereto, and upstanding therefrom; (d) a movable die carrier movably engaged with said movable die support; (e) a fixed die transversely positioned in said fixed die support; (f) a movable die transversely positioned in said die carrier in alignment with said fixed die; and (g) said movable die carrier cooperating with said movable die support to advance said movable die toward said fixed die to engage said movable die and said fixed die with a bead liner tube positioned in a bead to thereby shape the ends of the tube and to retract said movable die away from said fixed die.
 11. A tool as set forth in claim 10 wherein said movable die carrier includes: (a) a threaded stud extending through a threaded bore formed through said movable die support and receiving said movable die, said stud being rotatable to advance and retract said movable die relative to said fixed die.
 12. A tool as set forth in claim 11 and including: (a) a hand wheel engaged with said stud to enable grasping to rotate said stud.
 13. A tool as set forth in claim 10 wherein: (a) said fixed die is removably received in said fixed die support; and (b) said movable die is removably received in said movable die carrier.
 14. A tool as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said fixed die and said movable die includes: (a) a cylindrical mounting shank; (b) a stop disc at one end of said mounting shank; (c) a central stem extending from said stop disc; (d) said central stem diverging to curvate shoulders; (e) said stem and shoulders cooperating with an end of a bead lining tube to flare and roll an end of a bead liner tube upon engagement therewith; (f) said fixed die support including a fixed die receiving bore to receive the respective cylindrical mounting shank of said fixed die; and (g) said movable die carrier including a movable die receiving bore to receive the respective cylindrical mounting shank of said movable die.
 15. A tool as set forth in claim 10 and including: (a) a fastener engaged with said bed member and said movable die support to releasably secure said movable die support to said bed member.
 16. A tool as set forth in claim 10 and including: (a) said movable die support being slidably engaged with said bed member; and (b) a set screw mounted on said movable die support and operable to engage said bed member to releasably secure said movable die support to said bed member.
 17. A tool as set forth in claim 16 and including: (a) a plurality of spaced apart indentations formed in said bed member, said indentations being selectively engaged by said set screw to releasably secure said movable die support to said bed members.
 18. A bead lining tool for shaping opposite ends of a bead liner tube extending through a bead and comprising: (a) a generally flat bed member; (b) a fixed die support secured to said bed member and upstanding therefrom; (c) a movable die support slidably engaged with said bed member and upstanding therefrom, said movable die support being releasably secured thereto by a set screw operable to engage said bed member; (d) a movable die carrier movably engaged with said movable die support, said movable die carrier being formed by a threaded die carrier stud extending through a threaded bore formed through said movable die support, said stud being rotatable to advance toward said fixed die support and to retract therefrom; (a) a hand wheel engaged with said stud to enable grasping to rotate said stud; (e) a fixed die removably positioned in said fixed die support and transversely oriented; (f) a movable die removably positioned in said die carrier and transversely oriented in alignment with said fixed die; and (g) said movable die carrier cooperating with said movable die support to advance said movable die toward said fixed die to engage said movable die and said fixed die with a bead liner tube positioned in a bead to thereby shape the ends of the tube and to retract said movable die away from said fixed die.
 19. A tool as set forth in claim 18 wherein each of said fixed die and said movable die includes: (a) a cylindrical mounting shank; (b) a stop disc at one end of said mounting shank; (c) a central stem extending from said stop disc; (d) said central stem diverging to curvate shoulders; (e) said stem and shoulders cooperating with an end of a bead lining tube to flare and roll an end of a bead liner tube upon engagement therewith; (f) said fixed die support including a fixed die receiving bore to receive the respective cylindrical mounting shank of said fixed die; and (g) said movable die carrier including a movable die receiving bore to receive the respective cylindrical mounting shank of said movable die.
 20. A tool as set forth in claim 18 and including: (a) a plurality of spaced apart indentations formed in said bed member, said indentations being selectively engaged by said set screw to releasably secure said movable die support to said bed members. 